Murat Tabanlıoglu

Reviving the patina with reference to close history, Re-place meant to be, young and charming

Professor: Murat Tabanlıoglu

EN

Re-place meant to be

Once a marine swamp, meaning “there was the sea”, “Mar gh’ era” in Venetian dialect, Marghera industrialized and settled with the port, on the mainland opposite Venice and near Mestre. Beginning of the 20th century, and next to the zone a residential area developed for the workers. The spatial development patterns of city require regeneration by re-use of the existing values.

During the workshop, a study will be undertaken to understand the dimensions and portions of the area that is applicable as the basis of a vibrant new town mainly generated by and for the young people. Fluency between the functions will designate the use and re-arrangement of the buildings, so, to create a key program is the initial step of the research; who will use/enjoy the place, so what do they need /want/desire, accordingly, what are best possible and feasible infrastructure requirements and solutions are the basic questions.

With a highway and train connection to Venice, the new town should create possibilities and probabilities with a constant population, most probably made up of students of a new university campus that also will be open to a life-time learning center, temporary workshops, studios serving various disciplines, form music to sports, from philosophy to cinema, from literature to architecture and arts. Contrary to Venice, dead after 10 pm, the new town should live 24 hours.

Housing units should be considered essential to make the town real, where people live, not a made-up show town, either like Disneyland-Orlando or a high-paid open air museum-town like Venice, today. New canal houses – as in recent urban development in Amsterdam, Borneo İslands – that line the edges of the docks, will help making up the community, together with schools. Feasible building policy will encourage a feasible life-style with a variety of dwelling modes and with architectural variation, designed by young architects reflecting contemporary good-design.

The valuable world-heritage, Venice today is more like a heavy tourism zone, where you don’t have a regular city life; in Venice, you only encounter another visitor, a passer-by, like you, but no local spirit other than the setting itself. The town is not welcoming for the budget traveller, almost impossible for an average young person; around San Marco, for an ordinary cup of café one has to pay an extra ordinary price including a fixed fee for music. Palaces now are hotels, apartments are for rent for short-term.

Reviving the patina with reference to close history

To produce a new node with spatial qualities that shall integrate the old and the new, industrial heritage and the port will be the major themes of the new development. Aiming a surplus value, economically and in terms of social life, building connections is as important as the facilities, so spatial flexibility and adaptability in time should be considered.

The Margera project should offer a more democratic, and absolutely free, “connected town” arrangement. As in many abandoned places in the world, students should “occupy” the place to realize their dreams.

The regeneration area: selected islands should link to each other by successful organization of various functions

The students will offer a program that describe their vision and needs, for living, learning and leisure activities, to do that, they should first comprehend the land with its existing structures, perspectives, topography, paths, soil, obstacles and emptiness etc. underlying general schema in environmental evaluation and the applicability of new functions. For example, the island located on the lower end (ISola delle Tresse), may be spared as an urban agriculture project and related functions (like an organic culinary institute etc.) may be focused on a variety of Mediterranean fruits, vegetables, and herbs; or we need to spot places for water-related activities will emphasize a useable land policy, to the full.

Rearrangement and refurbishing of building stock, to be basically designed for special public functions will be the main focus, linking the spaces and buildings by landscaped paths and piazzas, also by use of the existing industrial elements, should create a festive atmosphere and an attraction point for inhabitants and generate an economy by also attracting visitors; accessibility and communicativeness will encourage the iconic meeting place of the 21st century.

The “young” urban regeneration project should play an essential role in shaping a competitive and livable community, with its capacity of trade and accommodation that will support the economy of the new “place”.

In addition, the entrepreneurs should sponsor the young ideas and help them realize this sample contemporary project.

Method

For inspiration and comparison, students should also be aware of similar previous works. As samples, Istanbul Halic Arsenale and Galataport Waterfront Transformation projects may also be benefited during the workshop, being the projects of my office. Students working with models would be eye-opening and ease to think in 3-D, also, making short-videos for better expression is recommended.